American Missionary Says He Was Tortured in North Korea
- 14 years ago
American missionary Robert Park says he was severely tortured and sexually abused during his detainment in North Korea. The human rights abuses were beyond his expectations and Park had to undergo psychological treatment for more than seven months.
On Monday, a U.S. missionary recounts his experience of being detained and tortured in North Korea for illegally crossing its border.
On Dec. 25 2009, Robert Park walked over the frozen Tumen River from China into North Korea on what he said was a mission to raise awareness about Pyongyang's human rights abuses. He was later released in February.
[Rober Park, American Missionary]:
"I hoped, through my sacrifice, that people would come together and they would liberate North Korea."
Park says he was beaten as soon as he caught by North Korean guards. The human rights abuses were beyond his expectations.
[Rober Park, American Missionary]:
"The scars and wounds of the things happened to me in North Korea are too intense."
Park says he was assaulted and sexually abused during the detainment in the North. The North tortured him sexually so that he wouldn't speak about the details of his detainment.
[Rober Park, American Missionary]:
"As result of what happened in North Korea, I've thrown away any kind of personal desire. I will never be able to have marriage or have any kind of relationship."
Park confessed that he attempted suicide right after he was released and had to undergo psychological treatment for more than seven months.
[Rober Park, American Missionary]:
"They have really thought about this -- how can we kill these people, how can we starve these people, how can we enslave these people, how can we control these people."
North Korean’s official KCNA news agency says Park confessed to illegally entering the state and that he had changed his mind about North Korea after receiving kind treatment, showing (quote) "sincere repentance."
On Monday, a U.S. missionary recounts his experience of being detained and tortured in North Korea for illegally crossing its border.
On Dec. 25 2009, Robert Park walked over the frozen Tumen River from China into North Korea on what he said was a mission to raise awareness about Pyongyang's human rights abuses. He was later released in February.
[Rober Park, American Missionary]:
"I hoped, through my sacrifice, that people would come together and they would liberate North Korea."
Park says he was beaten as soon as he caught by North Korean guards. The human rights abuses were beyond his expectations.
[Rober Park, American Missionary]:
"The scars and wounds of the things happened to me in North Korea are too intense."
Park says he was assaulted and sexually abused during the detainment in the North. The North tortured him sexually so that he wouldn't speak about the details of his detainment.
[Rober Park, American Missionary]:
"As result of what happened in North Korea, I've thrown away any kind of personal desire. I will never be able to have marriage or have any kind of relationship."
Park confessed that he attempted suicide right after he was released and had to undergo psychological treatment for more than seven months.
[Rober Park, American Missionary]:
"They have really thought about this -- how can we kill these people, how can we starve these people, how can we enslave these people, how can we control these people."
North Korean’s official KCNA news agency says Park confessed to illegally entering the state and that he had changed his mind about North Korea after receiving kind treatment, showing (quote) "sincere repentance."